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Monday, May 26, 2014

TwoOhSix at SIFF 2014: Week Two

TwoOhSix at SIFF recaps all the movies I was able to see during each week of this year's festival. This "Week Two" edition includes movies seen between May 19th and May 25th. You will not find any full reviews in these posts as many of the movies are waiting on domestic release dates. I will try to get all those reviews posted as soon as I am able.

Andy Lau in Firestorm

I had really high hopes for Firestorm as it looked to be an intense action thriller along the lines of last year's SIFF standout Drug War. Even with a cast lead by Andy Lau, the movie was just too long, drawn out, and melodramatic. The one thing that saved the movie for me was an unintentionally comedic climax that, at one point, had me in tears from laughing so hard.

Mads Mikkelson in Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas

Another disappointment that I had high hopes for going in. Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas was so flat and dry, I honestly slept through a significant portion of it. The best way I can describe this movie would be if someone decided to retell the Braveheart story but in the least interesting way possible.

Paulie Rojas in Another

Third time the charm for week two's movies? Unfortunately not. Another was just kind of a mess and didn't really do anything for the genre that I hadn't seen many times before. On a positive note, Paulie Rojas is officially one of my new movie star crushes.

Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightly in Begin Again

Begin Again was written and directed by John Carney and stars Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightly, Hailee Steinfeld, and Adam Levine. I have to say I really enjoyed the story not only for its breezy stroll through New York City's music scene, but also because of the genuinely fun and likable characters brought to life by an amazing cast. Easily one of the more enjoyable movies I've seen so far this year.

Zombeavers!

All I was hoping for with Zombeavers is that it would be a fun, campy, B-movie thrill ride that doesn't take it self too seriously. Thankfully director Jordan Rubin set out to do exactly that when creating what is basically an homage to the 80's horror and action genres. Watching this movie was so much fun with all of its gratuitous imagery and humor that I seriously didn't want it to end.